Ignition apparatus.



1. I. CRABTREE IGNITION APPARATUS.

APPLICATlON FILED MAR. 11. I917.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTOR Jam .17 'a'mbfree,

J. I. CRABTREE.

IGNITION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. I912.

. Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FIE-5 INVENTOH Jb/i/l I Gmbfre z m: mums rrrln m, ma'mumn. wmmm, n 4

foa s seams JOHN. I. cnnntrnnn, 0F, noci nsrnn, new YonKfAssIcnon T0EASTMAN KODAK,

' COMPANY, onnoonnsrrnn, new YORK, A CORPORATION on new YORK.

IeNITIon' Arrnnririfs.

To all whom it may concern: H v

Be it known that I, J OHN I. GRABTREE, a subject of the Kin of GreatBritain, residing in Rochester, 1n the countyoflMonroe and State of NewYork, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in IgnitionApparatus; and I do hereby-declare the following to .be a full,-clear,-and exactdescription of the same, referencebeing had totheaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andto-Zthe reference numerals marked thereon. s

' This invention relates to: electrical.igni-v tion apparatus, and moreparticularly to ignition apparatus of the type in which the ignitionelement is removable and renewable. It is my object; to provideiassimple-and cheap igniter in which reliable electrical,

contact'willalways bev obtained between the electrical ignition element,such as a fuse,

and the cooperating electric circuit 'terni- 5 nals; in which theignition element and the comb-ustible element, such asfflash-powder,"

may 'be quickly, conveniently, and safely renewed; in which the ignitionwill occur with certainty and yet premature ignition will'be prevented;and in which the parts areso a1 ranged that a pluralityof :igniters maybe connected together for simultaneous ignition of separate combustibleelements. jects will hereinafterappear.

While I shall describe the preferred embodiment of my invention asapplied to the ignition of photographic flash-powders, it will beunderstood that the invention is neither limited to this embodimentnorto the.

photographic art but. may be embodied in other forms and usedinother-arts within the-scope of the appended claims; In the accompanyingdrawing Figure 1' is a perspective view .of the ap-- paratus showing?the underside of the fla'sh Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe com binedlatch andswitch. v v

Fig. 3' is a sideview'of the same. 1 I

Fig;4 i a ottom plan view of certain 'circuitterminal's. 7 I v Fig.5is-"a side view thereof. F'g.f-q6f is a side view of the fuse holderwith-'awfuse mountedtherein.

F-iglg7'is a top plan view'of the same; I

Fig. 8. is a bottom plan view thereof,

Specification oi Letters Patent.

Other ob- I v Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

. App1icationfi1edMarch17,1917; Seria1No.155,538. 1

Fig. -;9 is a. diagram of the ignition cir 7 cuits;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a fuse. I

or cabinet. 1 r y The pan 1, which receives the flash powder 2,ismounted upon a substantially vertical metal door 3 hinged on theflanged metal panel 4:. The pan has a small opening; in' v the bottomthereof 'alining with holei5 in insulating late 6 bolted at? at .thebottom of pan-1. ounted on plate ,6 are two parallel strong terminalsprings 8= of brass or I copper, spaced from plate 6 -by insulatingThe-fuse, which is an organized structure in bar9 .to which they arefastened at 10 and also spacedfrom each other soas to. leave. opening11. They'carry binding posts 12.

*contradistinction to mere 'wire, comprises a strip 13 of insulatingmaterial wrapped at "each end with thin fcopper, brass, or similar bands14, 14, between which a fuse wire 15' such as fine iron wire isstretched -dered. i V

The fuse is not placed directly in the apparatus but is first mountedona holder which is then slipped into the apparatus and sol- This holdercomprises a handle;16' and a plate16 of insulating material such as hardfiber on? the bottom of which is medially fastened an insulating guidepiece 17 adapted to fit openin-gll. On ,both sides of the piece 17 are.fastened two copper bands 18, '18,

which are bent up-around the edge of the plate at 19, with their'ends 20on the topof the plate. Two strong copper or ,brass springs 21, 21,under which .the fuse may be slid, are fastened. on or made integralwith i ends 20. The outer-ends of springs 21, and {8 are beveled or bentto permit the The readily inserted;- under them; 1'

parts .to

The latch of the door 3 includes a rotary shaft 22 carrying at itsouter' end ahandle 23 Also'fmoun'ted near. the outer end ofshaft -andat-its inner end a bar 24 adaptedto catch. over the panel 4 to help holdthe. door closed.

22 is a switch arm 25 adaptedto close the electriccircuit, when the dooris shut, by

-='conta'cting 1 with the complementary switch 1 members 26,27mountedtogether with-bind ing'post28 on insulating plate29 on panel 4:. .Oneside of the electric circuit is con nected to binding post 28; the otherside is connected to one of the binding posts 12. The remaining post 12is connected to the metal door 3 by wire 30 soldered thereon.

Bar 24, which may be insulated, has an additional function. WVhen door 3is open, the operator might inadvertently turn arm '25 to its horizontalposition. Under such circumstances the arm 25 could hit means werepresent.

preventive means. With door 3 open, if arm be turned to the horizontalposition, bar

against the outer face of. member 26 and cause a premature ignition,ifno preventive Bar 24 constitutes such 24 likewise becomes horizontalandwill itself hit against member 26 and positively maintain arm 25separate from member 26.] r Fig. 9 illustrates a V convenient way ofconnecting up the above parts with a source of power 31, a pilot glowlamp 32, a two way switch 33 and a normally open push switch 34; Whenmaking a flash the current from source 31 passes through the followingseries of parts: Push switch34, postj28,'members 26, 27, arm 25, shaft22, door 3, wire-30, apost 12, a strip 8,a band 18, an end 20, a

spring21, a band 14, fuse Wire 15, the other band 14, the other spring21, end 20, band 18, strip 8, post 12, and switch 33 to the.

source 31. To test the circuit before the flash is set off, the lamp 32is connected'in the circuit byturning switch 33 to the dotted positionin- Fig. '9. Thislamp will glow if all the electrical connections areadequate but its resistance is so great that it lowers the test currentto a small amount which When switch 33-:

does not blow the fuse.

' short-circuits the lamp 32, as shown in full device or it may beincorporated in a bag 'or I cabinet 37', (Fig. '11-) of thelight-diffusing andjsmokeretaming type. Due to'the certainty fandpromptness of ignition, several of these ignition-devices may beconnected.

to fire' their [charges simulg together so as taneously.

' A fuse'isslippedunder springs 21 on'the lines in Fig. 9, a currentthrough the fuse can be obtained great enough to blow it. 7

Deflectors 35, 35 may be fastened to panel 4 at each side of door 3. Thepanel 4 may also carry incandescent lamps V 36 to illuminate the sub ectto be photographed while being posed. The apparatus hereinabovejdescribed may be used. as an open-tray flash The Operation bf y pparatusis as follows: r

holder with'fuse wire; 15 on theou'tside-as shown in Fig-7. The rubbingand scraping action between-springs 21 and bands '14 insuresa good broadelectrical connection be;

tween th'e'miThis is an impo'rtant' point 'be cause itavoids theinsulating elfect-ofthe scale which always forms in 7 time on the.-:parts near the flash. It is also-noted that.

this scale removing friction takes place-bel to go off.

tween 'metal parts that have suflicient area 7' and are hard enough to.accomplish the'desired result. In devices, where the electric connectionis made directly with a small, and 7 often soft, fuse-wire by pressureor friction,

the results are not [reliable because of the small contact areaof thewire and theinabllity of the soft wire to remove the insulating scale.By soldering the fuse wire tobands 14 and letting the latter, make therubbing contact, the connections are alwaysrehable,

comes to a The handle 23 of the door 3 is next turned to the'positionindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2,.and the door opened, therebybreaking the electrical connection between arm 25 and switch members 26,27 so that no current can be sent through the apparatus as long as thedoor is open.

The assembled holderand fuse are next inthereby avoiding the loss ofprestige which f photographer whose flash refuses serted under springs8, guide 17 sliding into' 7 opening 11 and the fuse wire 15 comingoppositev hole 5; -.Duringthis insertion the suring reliableelectricalconnection between pan above the fuse with which it f comes intoigniting proximity through hole 5..

turned soas to lock it and restore connections between arm 25;andmembers 26, 27.

If desired, a test of the electrical connections can 'nowrbe made, usinglamp 32 asrhereinabovedescribed. The fuse is set off by closing the pushswitch. 34 when the other springs v8 strongly rub againstbands 18,in-

- them; The flash powder is now placed in the 195 "The door'is nextclosed and, handle 23" switches are incorrect position. Thecurrenthighly heats the'wire 15 to the point where it meltsand'perhapsgives a puff of It is sometimes necessary tomakea second 1 7.110

flash as soon aspossible after the first one. My device especiallyfacilitates this; The operator opens the door, takes out the holder,

replaces the spent fusewitha freshone, and

the parts of theholderwill quickly' cool 7 While the fusejis preferablyof'ithe' form shown, any fuse "which; includes suflicientf area in itsterminals to allow; a V scale-remov 'ing'frictional contact may beusedgi Other V modifications 'iwithin 'theiisciope of the" ap-?'incandescent vapor-, igniting the flash powder aboveit'withina'veryshort time 7 7 after the pushswitchjis closed.

pended claims Will occur to persons skilled in this art. I I

I claim: 1

1. In an ignition device, an ignition element having electricalterminals of relatively wide area, a holder, means on the holder fordetachably supporting said ignition element and frictionally engagingsaid terminals and a support for the combustible having means thereonfor detachably retaining the holder and ignition element in ignitingproximity to the combustible, said holder being provided with a handleextending away from the combustible when the holder is in position onsaid support.

2. In an ignition device, an ignition element having electricalterminals thereon, a holder having means for detachably and replaceablysupporting said ignition element and for making electrical connectionwith said terminals, and a receptacle for the combustible having membersfor detachably retaining the holder and ignition element in operativeproximity to said combustible, said members making electrical connectionwith said means, said holder having a handle shielded by the receptaclefrom said combustible.

3. In an ignition device, an ignition element having electricalterminals thereon, a

holder having metal strips shaped to de-.

tachably and replaceably support the ignition element and electricallyconnected with said terminals, and a receptacle for the combustiblehaving metal strips for detachably supporting the holder and for makingelectrical connection with the strips on said holder.

4. In an ignition device, an ignition element including electricalterminals, a holder having metal strips with resilient portions todetachably support the ignition element and frictionally connect withsaid terminals, and a receptacle for the powder having resilient metalstrips thereon for detachably supporting the holder.

5. In an ignition device, an ignition element having electricalterminals, a holder therefor comprising a base carrying two metal stripsto detachably support the ignition element and frictionally connect withsaid terminals and also carrying a guide, and

wvith an ignition element having electrical terminals, and a holdercomprising a base having an insulated handle and provided on its upperface with two spaced insulated metal springs for holding said ignitionelement and contacting with its terminals, said comprising a baseprovided on its upper face with two spaced metal gripping sprlngs and onits'under face with two metal ter- 7 minals electrically connected tosaid springs, and a receptacle for the combustible provided with twometal springs for detachably supporting the fuse holder and frictionallymaking electric contact with said terminals.

8. In an ignition device, a fuse holder comprising a base provided withan insulated handle and having on its upper face two spaced metalgripping springs and on its under face a central guide and at each sideof said guide two terminals electrically connected to said springs, anda receptacle for the combustible provided with two spaced metal springsunder which the fuse holder is adapted to be slipped and detachablyheld, said springs on the receptacle making electrical contact with saidterminals and receiving the guide between them.

9. In an ignition apparatus, a holder for detachably supporting a fuse,comprising a base having an insulated handle and on one face two metalgripping springs and on its other face two terminals electricallyconnected with said springs.

10. In an ignition apparatus, a holder for detachably supporting a fuse,comprising a flat base of insulating material having an insulated handleand provided on one face with two metal gripping springs and on itsother face with an insulated block and two metal terminals electricallyconnected to said springs.

11. In an ignition apparatus, a panel and a door hinged thereon providedwith a support for a combustible and a detachable electric ignitionelement adjacent the combustible, said door provided with a combinedlatch and switch, the switch being in circuit with the ignition elementso as to open said circuit when the door is unlatched.

12. In an ignition apparatus, a panel and a 'door hinged thereonprovided with a support for a combustible and a detachable electricignition element adjacent the combustible, said doorcarrying a pivotedswitch arm, there being a cooperating switch element on the panel withwhich the switch arm interlocks to complete the circuit and hold thedoor in closed position.

13. In a flash abparatugapanel, a door in said panel provided with acombined latch 7 flopies of tliis patentmay' be obtained for and switch,said switch being open when the door is unlatched, said door carrying anignition device, and means for preventing premature closure of: saidswitch while said door is in open. position.

14. Ina flash apparatus, a panel, a door in'said panel, a switchmemberjon said panel, a movablecooperating switch member on the door,sa1d switch members cooperating to latch the door, and a safetyelementmoV- ablewith the switch niemberon the door to 7V maintain saidmembersseparate when the.

Inite'stimony whereof I have signed this specification, ,.f1n thepresence of two w1tdoor is unlatched.

nesses, this 8th day of March, 1917, at Rochester, N.,-Y;; I

\Vitnesses: y v w 1 FRE H. GARDNER, 5v 7C; EKMA TIN. I

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. 0, a

JOHN i CBABTREEL j

